Batting 1.000

COMMUNITY SPORTS

So Far, The Cooper City Baseball Team Has Fulfilled All Its Goals. But The Biggest Challenge Remains: Winning The District 12-5a Tournament.

April 27, 1994|By RAY BOETEL Staff Writer

The Cooper City High baseball team set a host of goals for the 1994 season.

-- Gain at least a split in the preseason Palm Beach Diamond Classic.

-- Win the South Broward Invitational.

-- Put on a respectable showing in the Upper Deck Classic in California.

-- Match last year's 18 wins.

-- Get seeded No. 1 in its district tournament.

-- Win the District 12-5A tournament.

So far, the Cowboys are batting 1.000.

Coach Charlie Cardinale's club got its split, swept through the South Broward tournament without a loss and bounced back after an opening-round loss to finish 3-1 in California.

A 10-5 district victory over Plantation last week gave Cooper City its 18th win of the year to clinch the top seed for next week's district tournament.

A 4-1 win over South Broward last Thursday upped the Cowboys' record to 19-8.

"Not bad, considering this team is still young and making mistakes," said Cardinale, a second-year coach.

The Cooper City roster is comprised of 17 juniors, a sophomore and six seniors.

"We have lost some close games, have had some lapses on defense and we have messed up some routine plays during the season," added Cardinale. "The hitting has been up and down. We have never really settled on a No. 1 catcher. We have been rotating three people behind the plate most of the year: Naha Jumper, Chris O'Keefe and Jose Rivera."

Still, the Cowboys are winning.

"One thing, these kids don't quit until the game is finally over," said Cardinale.

"This is an average ball club, but one that has a lot of guts. We have been down in games quite a few times, but have managed to come back to win."

Cardinale feels his club can go far in the state playoffs. Since two teams from the district will advance to the sub-regional, all it needs to do this year is finish second.

Second, however, is not what the Cowboys want.

"My kids want to win," said Cardinale.

There are no superstars on the Cowboys.

Only four batters have averages over .300. Anthony Coloca leads with .391, Omar Beckford is at .385, Greg Morris .355 and Ray Rodriguez .338. Coloca, however, is currently sidelined with an injury.

Pitching has been good at times, poor at others.

"We had some early control problems with some pitchers, but they appear to be solved, " said Cardinale. "If we can get some consistent pitching, we can advance.

"Senior Joey DeSantis (4-1) has come on strong and David Gates has given us some solid innings since returning from a sore arm."

Anthony Rodriguez (6-3), Chad Fitzgerald (5-2) and DeSantis have been carrying much of the pitching load. "This team has had a lot of pressure on it this year," added Cardinale. "Sometimes it has been hectic."

Cardinale said the Cowboys raised $27,000 to make the California trip, but then wondered if they belonged in the tournament. Cooper City had 11 runs scored on it in a single inning in its first game and was down 7-1 in the second before rallying to beat Mountain View, Calif.

The Cowboys turned the experience into a positive by winning the rest of its games to finish 3-1 in California.

The Cowboys had two players named to the All-Tournament team: Coloca and outfielder Phillip Garcia.

"It was a great experience for everyone, one which was worth every penny," said Cardinale. "Everyone got involved. It opened up a new world to the players."

When the Cowboys returned, they found themselves ranked in the state poll.

"That added to the pressure," he said.

One thing Cardinale feels Cooper City has going in its favor this year is that its Class 5A district, which had nine and 10 teams in the past, is now split into two.

Cooper City does not have to compete with Taravella, Douglas and Coconut Creek.

"We could get one of them later on in the playoffs, but not right away," said Cardinale.

Cooper City, in District 12-5A, must now get past Plantation, Miramar, Western and Dillard to advance.